Extension fire-ladder



(No Mode 1.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1'.

L. D-EDERIGK. EXTEKSION FIRE LADDER.

$1 ,444,820, Patented Jan. 20, 1891 llNiTEn STATES ATENT FFICE.

LEVI DEDERIOK, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

EXTENSION FIRE-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 444,820, dated January 20, 1891.

Application filed August 11, 1890. fierial No. 361,713. (No model.)

To alt whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEVI DEDERICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Albany, in the county of Albany and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Extension Fire-Ladders, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements on former inventions forimprovements of extension fire-ladders made by myself; and it consists in the combinations of devices and elements particularly described in the specification, and specifically set forth in the claims.

The objects of my invention are to provide means by which the main ladder with the extension member can be more easily raised from a horizontal position to a vertical one by means of a hoisting device applied to operate the main ladder, and also to more effectively support the rearward portion of the ladders while they are being turn ed from a horizontal position to a vertical one also, to provide with a main supporting-braceasupplemental brace which will temporarily support the weight of the rearward half portions of the ladders until they are elevated to a degree to receive effective support from the main braces; also, to provide a simple and effective device for holding the ladders to any given point of elevation without any liability of accidental release or falling of the ladders and to enable an operator at will to lower the same; also, to provide a simple and efficient means for hoisting vertically the extension member of the ladder without the hoisting-lines becoming deranged or unevenly applying the hoisting power to effect an elevation of said member; also, to provide a simple and effective means for elevating a rescue-car to the top of the extension member of the ladder while that member is itself being elevated or extended upwardly; also, to provide means by which persons may have ready passage over or up and down the extension member and the main member at the same time the rescue-car is in service; also, to provide means by which the operators of the several parts of the ladder can be made to counterbalance by their united weight the weight of the ladders on the turnplatform; also, to provide a simple and efficient means by which a person may with ease steer the hinder portion or gearing of the running part of the truck of the ladder; also, to provide other simple and effective means by which the several parts of thisinvention may be embodied in fire-ladders. I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure l is aside elevation of an extension fire-ladder embodying the improvements in this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is air-elevation of the same, illustrating the ladders being elevated. Fig. at is a sectional view, on an enlarged scale, of a side rail of a ladder and rack and means for holding the side rails parallel and replacing the rounds. Fig. 5. is a sectional 'view of the spring jack or chuck employed to set the springs and hold them rigid. Fig. 6 is a view of a modified form of construction of device for making the main supporting-brace extensible. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the rescue-car.

The same letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings, A represents the body of the truck or carriage of the ladder, of which a (t are the wheels, b Z) the axles, c. c the springs, and (Z cl the circles on which the gears (composed of the said wheels, axles, and springs) turn in relation to said body. The front gear is turned by the pole B. The rear gearing is turned by means of the flexible draft connection 0, connecting the tillerwheel shaft with the outer end portions of the bolster above the springs. This draft connection maybe in part or wholly com posed of links or belt-chain working with a sprocket-wheel a, secured to shaft D, supported from the truck-fr'tme by suitable bearin gs. Awheel E, secured to said shaft, serves as a means for revolving the said shaft and operating the sprocket-wheel and draft connection for turning the said gearing in either direction for guiding the running of the rear gearing of the truck.

F is the turn-platform of the apparatus, and has secured to its lower side the turn circle f, supported on the upper side of the body A of the truck and turning on a suitable king-bolt a. One or more sockets Gare secured to this turn-platform for receiving suitable levers g for turning said platform in either direction. This platform is extended outwardly past each side of the body of the truck and forward of the king-bolt to such a distance that ample room is provided for the standing of operatives on said extended portions and forward of the king-bolt when operating the ladders, so as to counterbalance the weight on the rear side of the platform from the ladders being elevated.

II H are posts for support of the foot end of the main member of this ladder.

I is the main member of this ladder, and is sometimes known as the main ladder. This main member is preferably made of wood with side rails Z t' and rounds t" 'Z. These rails i, one of which is shown in Fig. 4, are held parallel by means shown in Fig. 4, which consists of the flanged sleeve K, provided with an inner screw-thread and secured to the side rail from its inner side, and the cylindrical sleeve 7;, provided with a screwthread working in the screw-thread in sleeve K (or in a hole having a screw-thread in the Wood of the rail.) The rounds t" are made of a length about equal to the distance between the side rails (or the flange of sleeve K when it is used.) The end portions of these rounds enter the inner sleeve 7a, and are each secured by a screw or its known equivalent. When it is desired to replace a round with a new one, the screw k will be removed and the sleeve 70 will be revolved in the proper direction to turn it out from sleeve K, (or the wood of the rail,) while the broken round 2' is held from turning, when the sleeve It will be slid endwise on the round until it is fully out of the sleeve K, (or the wood of the rail,) after which the round may be removed and replaced by a new one by reverse operations with the parts described.

J is a rack securedto one of the side rails preferably, and is preferably let into the rail i from its lower side, as shown in Fig. 4, and as indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 3. This rack J is extended from the rear end of the side rail of the main ladder I to near or past the middle of length of the same, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The forward end of the main ladder or member I is pivoted to posts II II by the rod or shaft I, and the rear half portion is supported in a horizontal position by a suitable supporting devieej.

L L are the main supporting-braces of the ladder, the forward ends of which are pivoted at Z to the rear end of platform F, and their rearward ends are pivoted to the supportingbar Z, Figs. 1, 2, and 3. These main supporting-braces L L are extensible and may be made so by any suitable means, such as telescopic members working one withinanother, as shown in Fig. 1, and as indicated in Fig.

3, or by the ends of the supporting-bar Z hold ing with and working in a slot Z, made in piece L, as illustrated in Fig. 6, secured at the side rails of the main ladder. hen these main supporting-braces are made of iron or steel pipes, the members Z and 1 Fig. 1, will form said extensible braces; but when the main portion is made of wood the slotted piece L, with the ends of the supporting-bar Z working in the slot, can be employed. This main ladder I is prevented from shifting sidewise on supporting-bar Z by reason of side guards m, (which may consist of flanged rollers loosely mounted on the said bar Z,) having bearing against the outer sides of the rails t of said ladder. The great advantages attending the employment of these two kinds of braces are that the supplementary braces give a stronger support to the rearward portion of the ladder at first, when more power is required, and furnish at first a stronger leverage than the other braces for lifting the rear end portions of the ladder, by reason of their being more inclined toward a Vertical position than the telescoping braces, while after the rear end of the ladder has been raised to an angle at which the supplementary braces will cease to act as supports the telescoping braces will have their sections closed together and make the braces they constitute powerful for supporting the lad der and for operation as levers for finishing the elevation of thesame and for propping it from swaying sidewise.

M is a dog pivoted on the supporting-bar Z and working with the teeth of the rack J. This dog is preferably of the kind known as gravity-dog, yet springscan be employed to hold the dog in engagement With the rack. A cord m, connected with the dog, serves as a means for releasing the latterfrom the rack when it is desired to lower the ladder I.

N N are supplemental supporting-braces, which are pivoted by their upper ends to the supporting-bar Z, while their foot ends are loosely seated in open steps or seats a a, secured to the body A of the truck, so as to allow the said foot ends to be lifted clear and out of said steps when the ladder has been elevated to a part of its full distance, as illustrated in Fig. 3, so as to effect a transfer of the weight of the ladder on the main supportingbraces L L when they have been brought into position suitable for supporting the weight of the said ladders. These supplemental braces are held connected with the main braces L L by any suitable flexible connection, as chain at or cords or jointed rods, which will allow these two classes of braces being folded toward each other, as shown in Fig. 1, and alsolimit the spread of the same, so as to hold the foot ends of the supplemental braces in situation to enter the open seats or steps a when said braces are about to be brought into active work for support of the rearward portions of the ladders. WV hen the main ladder or member is being raised or lowered,its rear half portion rides on the supporting-bar Z, orou rollers loosely mounted on the same.

P P are pulleys mounted on the upper ends of the posts II II at adistance of two ormore Q Q are flexible draft-lines, which may be made of any suitable material or form of con struction, yet I prefer to make them in part of metal chain or link belt q q and rods (1 q, the latter having their rear ends jointed with the outer ends of the supportingbar Z, or they can be made wholly of wire cable.

R is a shaft suitably supported in bearings mounted on brackets or posts R R, and is provided with flanged drums or spools r r, on which the chain belt or other flexible portion of the draft-lines Q is wound, as shown in Fig. 2. The drums of these spools are of small diameter compared with the diameter of the circle in which the cranks r revolve when the spool is being revolved. At the first starting of the elevation of the ladder the spools act slowly yet powerfully for raising the same through the draft-lines Q, and as the elevation of the said ladder is gradually advanced the resistance to the power applied through the cranks will be gradually lessened, and the spools will have, practically, their diameters increased by the additions of coils of the chain belt thereon, and thereby as gradually increase the speed of the draft on the supporting-bar Z beneath the ladder, and thereby gradually and continuously accelerate the speed of elevation of the ladders as they are being turned up from a horizontalposition toward one approaching a vertical position, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3.

A friction-brake S, composed of a pulley secured to shaft R and afriction-strap operated by lever S, serves as a means for checking the speed of revolution of the spools r '1" when the ladder I is being lowered.

T is the extension member of this ladder, and is sometimes called the extension-ladder. This member or ladder T ismade with a width, outside measure, corresponding with the width of the main ladder or member 1 between its side rails. This extension-ladder is supported on suitable rollers placed at intervals on the main ladder, and can be readily moved over the same in either direction, and its foot end is provided with a suitable roller at each side rail for support of the foot end of said ladder T while traveling over the main ladder I. This ladder is held in place from shifting or rising by means of suitable holding devices t, which may consist of rollers or other devices secured to the side rails of ladder I. These guide-pieces or holding devices t loosely bearon the upper edges of the side rails of the ladder T, as shown in Fig. 2, and prevent the latter from being moved off from the main ladder when both ladders are elevated, as indicated in Fig. 3 by dotted lines.

U, Figs. 1 and 2, is a windlass supportedin suitable bearings secured to the foot end of the mainladder I, and is provided with suitable cranks for revolving the same, and can be provided with a suitable brake for checking its speed of revolution when the extene sion-ladder is being lowered. Secured to one end of the Windlass-shaft is a ratchet-wheel and pawl "u, for holding the extension-ladder to the place moved to.

V is a hoisting-line, made of any suitable material, and connects with the Windlass U, main ladder l, and extension-ladder T in such a manner that the latter willbe practically suspended from the former,and may have its body raised or extended upwardly above the main ladder by revolving the said Windlass in the proper direction. I prefcrto make this hoist: ing-line V to be dual in character by having its'opposite ends secured to the drum of the windlass U, with the two side portions of the body of the said line carried to the-pulleys t at'the rear ends of the main ladder and passed over the same, and thence downward- 1y to the foot end of the extension ladder or member T, and thence over the equalizingpulleys U, n at the foot of said ladder, so that the middle portion of said dual hoistingline V will be between said two pulleys t" 1;. In this form of construction and arrangements-of the parts operating for hoisting the extension-ladder T the hoisting-line V may have a half portion or one of its side lines wet and shrunk, or the reverse, without affecting the other half portion of said line, and in all cases each half of this line will be made to sustain an equal amount of the weight of the ladder T being raised or lowered as the other.

I prefer to provide a groove in the lower side edges of the side rails of the extension member or ladder, in which the side portions of this duplex hoisting-line V may be contained, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, to protect the said line from injury.

WV is a rescue-car, whichcan be made of any suitable material and of any suitable construction, for safely holding occupants while ascending or descending. I preferably make this rescue-car with a close bottom of hard wood and with woven-wire sides,and with a length of about six feet, more orless, and with a width about one foot less than the width of the extension-ladder between its side rails, and so as to admit the passage of a person over said ladder in either direction, and between a side rail thereof and this car, while it is at rest or when in motion. 10 w are safety-straps, made of leather, canvas, or other suitable material, for security of occupants within the car.

X is the car-hoisting line, which is secured to the rear end of the car XV, and is passed over pulley 00, preferably loosely mounted on a round of the extension-ladder or a shaft at the upper end of the same, and thence is run downwardly between theladders I and T to a cleat 00', secured to the platform F forward of. the posts II II. This line can be run over. a loose pulley mounted on one of the lower rounds of the extension-ladder or on a shaft at the foot of the same. By means of this cleat 0c, hoisting-lineX, and pulley a; this rescue-car can be drawn upwardly at the same time the extension member or ladder T is be ing projected upwardly, and thereby this car will be carried to the altitude intended at about the time the upper end of the said ladder has been made to reach the point of elevation required. After this car W has been raised to the height desired by means of the devices and operations above described, the line X can be readily loosened from cleat :r and the car can be alternately raised and lowered'at will by persons standing on the platform and operating said line over pulley 0c in directions as may be required.

Y, Fig. 5, is the spring jack or chuck for holding and preventing the springs c c of the running-gear of the truck from moving vertically in either direction and making the running-gear to be, in effect, a solid foundation for the support of the truck-body and the ladders mounted thereon. This spring jack or chuck consists of the turn-sleeve y, provided with right and left handinside screwthreads and the eye-piece y and notched axle-holding piece 31 This spring jack or chuck is secured to the lower side of the bolsters above the spring 0 by a suitable staple or eyebolt, and when not in use it can be turned to one side away from the axle and be there held by any suitable hook or strap. (Not shown.) When it is to be used to make the springs rigid, it will be turned down so that its square recessed axle-holding piece 1 will be made to engage with the square of the axle it is to hold with. By revolving the sleeve 3 in the proper direction the-screwthreaded stems of the parts y and 1 will be drawn together or toward each other, and by revolving the sleeve in the opposite direction these parts will be extended, and by either method of operation the springs can be locked, so as to be inelastic or yielding under the weight imposed from above on the springs.

Z is the drivers seat mountedon standards 2 .2, secured to the front end of the body A of the truck. This seat and its standards have no connection with the turn-platform F and at all times holds the driver while on the seat in situation for control of the animals.

Z is the tiller-mans seat, which is mounted on a suitable standard. 2, rising from the platform Z secured below the plane of the steering-wheel E,'to a distance of about four feet, more or less, as may be convenient for the occupant for operating the said steeringwheel for steering the running of the hind wheels.

The revolving drums or spools a" r can be held from being turned back by the weight of the ladders by means of the ratch et-wheel r and pawl 7 made with the friction-brake lever S. The gravity of this lever S will operate to hold the said pawl in engagement with the said ratchet-wheel, and when the operator raises the said lever to tighten the frictionstrap on the friction-pulley S he will atthe same time lift the pawl r out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel and allow the drums or spool-shaft R to revolve with greater or less rapidity, as may be desired.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1S'.

1. The combination, in a fire-ladder, with the main ladder having its foot end pivoted through posts or brackets to a platform, and a Windlass provided with means for revolving the same, and pulleys P P at a distance above the pivot of said ladder, "of the sliding or movable supporting-bar Z, applied to the lower side of said ladder, supporting-braces L L, having one end pivoted to the said platform and its opposite end to said supportingbar, and the draft-lines Q Q, connecting said supporting-bar to said Windlass, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In an extension fire-ladder, the combination, with the main ladder pivoted to a platform, and pulleys P P loosely mounted on bea ings which are at a distance above the plain of the pivot of said ladder, of flanged spools r T, which may be revolved at will, a sliding or moving supporting-bar applied across the lower side of the ladder, a supporting-brace hinged to the rear side of the platform and having its upper end pivoted to the supporting-bar, and a flexible draft line 'or lines between the said flanged spools and the said supporting-bar and winding on said spools, so as to gradually increase their diameters as they are being revolved, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In an extension fire-ladder, the combination, with a main ladder pivoted to a platform, extensible supporting-braces having their footends pivoted to the platform and their upper ends to a supporting-bar l, applied to the lower side of said ladder, and a hoisting device operating to elevate the rear end portion of said ladder, of the supplemental supporting-braoes N N, having their upper ends hinged with the said supportingbar, and their lower ends loosely setting in seats or steps secured to the body of the truck at a distance rearward of the pivot of the foot end of the extensible braces, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. In an extension fire-ladder, the combination, with the pivoted main ladder,ah0isting device connectingwith thesupporting-barl, of rack J, secured to the lower side of a side rail of the ladder, dog M, pivoted on said support ing-bar and operating with said rack, means for disengaging said dog, and supportingbraces pivoted at their foot ends to the platform the ladder is pivoted to and having their upper ends pivoted to the said supportingbar, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In an extension fire-ladder, the combination, with the main ladder, which is pivoted to a platform and is elevated by means of revolving drums or spools and draft-lines, of extensible supporting-braces L L, pivoted to the said platform, the supplemental supporting-braces M, pivoted rearward of the braces L L and loosely holding steps or seats secured to the body of the truck for receiving the foot ends of said braces -N, and flexible connection a between said braces L and N, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

6. In an extension fire-ladder, the combination, with the pivoted main ladder, hoistingspools'provided with flanges for holding each succeeding coil of the hoisting-lines on the preceding coil, and hoisting-lines connecting said flanged spools with a device for lifting the rear end portion of the pivoted main 1adder, of the extensioirlaclder, Windlass U, and the continuous dual hoisting-line 22', secured to said Windlass and running over pulleys at the rear end of the main ladder, and having its middle portion bent on pulleys arranged with the foot ends of the side rails of the extension-ladder and then connected at its opposite end to the same Windlass, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

7. In an extension fire-ladder,thecombination, with the extension memberthereof, of a rescue-car adapted to be moved over the rounds thereof and having a width which will admit the passage of one individualbetween one of the side rails and said car, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In an extension fire-ladder, the combination, with the rear end running-gear of the truck, of a tiller-shaft provided with sprocketwheel 6 and steering-wheel E, of the flexible connection C, having a belt'or chain portion Working with said sprocket-wheel and its opposite ends secured with the ends of the bolster above the springs, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. In an extension fire-ladder, the combination, with the body of the truck and a platform pivoted thereto and secured to the turn-circle f, supported on the upper side of said truckbody, and a main ladder provided with hoisting mechanism which is operated from said platform, of sockets, one or more, secured to said platform and provided with levers, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

10. In an extension fire-ladder, the combination, with the body of the truck and a platform pivoted thereto and secured to theturncirclef, supported on the upper side of said truck-body, a main ladder provided with a hoisting device which is operated from said platform, and an extension member provided with devices also operated from the same platform for extending the said extension member, of sockets, one or more, secured to said platform and provided with levers, substantially as and for the purposes set fortln 11. In an extension fire-ladder, the combination, with the truck-body provided at its front end with a seat from which the driver can guide and control the animals attached thereto, and provided also at its rear end with a supporting device from which a tillerman can operate the steering mechanism of the rear end runninggear of the apparatus, of a revolving platform mounted on said truck-bod y for support of the ladders, its op erating mechanism, and the operators of the same, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

12. In an extension fire-ladder, the combination, with the hoisting-Windlass of a spool, friction-wheel, and a ratchet-Wheel, all mounted and secured on the same shaft, of a lever having between the pivot or fulcrum on which it moves and i s handle end a friction-strap, and a pawl or dog for operation at the will of the operator with either the friction-wheel or the ratchet-Wheel, substantially asand for the purposes set forth.

13. In a fire-ladder, the combination, with the side rail 6 and round 1'', of the cylindrical sleeve in for receiving an end of the round, provided with an exterior screw-thread which Works in screw-threads in a corresponding hole made in said side rail, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

lel. In a fire-ladder, the combination, with the side rail 2' and round 6', of the flanged sleeve K, provided with an internal screwthread and seated in the side rail, and the cylindrical sleeve 7c for receiving an end of the round and provided with an external screwthread which works into the said flanged sleeve and the hole in the said round, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

LEVI DL-DERICK.

IVitnesses:

GEORGE POE, ALEX. SELKIRK. 

